Can You Change A Prepaid Phone To A Plan

All-time prepaid phone plans in 2022

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The best prepaid phone plans tin can cut the cost of your monthly wireless service dramatically. And while there are some tradeoffs to opting for prepaid service — perks are few and far between — you're accessing the same network used by customers with postpaid plans. In some cases, yous'll even become 5G coverage equally part of your service.

Merely the biggest incentive to tracking down the best prepaid phone plan? You not merely salve coin, but you don't have to worry about cut downward on data. Sure, the less data you need, the less you'll have to pay, but even the all-time unlimited data plans can be surprisingly affordable from prepaid carriers.

Equally nosotros've learned by researching the best prepaid phone plans, in that location are a wide diversity of options, highlighted past different data levels — and prices — that address your particular needs.

The best prepaid phone plans at a glance

As noted to a higher place, yous will accept to make some tradeoffs — you won't go the perks that come with more expensive plans from the big carriers. Forget about costless subscriptions to streaming services included in your plan or using your monthly data allotment when yous travel overseas. At most, you're probable to go some hotspot data. And y'all're also subject to slower speeds if the network your prepaid carrier uses is clogged with traffic. If you've demand multiple lines, y'all may want to look elsewhere for the all-time family cell phone plan, equally only a few of the options below offering discounts on extra lines.

Even with all that, though, there'south a lot to be said for a lower monthly bill. And whether y'all're shopping for a new phone and need a new wireless plan or just desire to make certain that your current program is among the best prison cell phone plans overall, information technology pays to consider the all-time prepaid phone plans as money-saving options.

When you lot consider a prepaid vs. postpaid phone service comparison, you may decide that prepaid service is right for yous. Here are the best prepaid telephone plans we've plant for wireless phone service, based on the options at major carriers, prepaid service providers and other lesser known outlets.

The all-time prepaid phone plans for your smartphone

The best value prepaid cell phone programme:

Best prepaid plan for coverage:

Great value from a major carrier:

Best unlimited information prepaid cell phone plan:

All-time unlimited data prepaid cell phone program from a retailer:

Low cost-plan from T-Mobile:

A plan worth a 2nd wait:

The cheapest plan of all:

Most flexible prepaid for families:

Best free prepaid plan:

How to choice the best prepaid telephone plans

When shopping for a prepaid telephone plan, price is paramount. That's because prepaid plans don't frequently come with the kind of benefits postpaid jail cell phone plans offer. That said, some carriers — such as Metro By T-Mobile and Boost — do piece of work in a few perks, then be aware of those when picking your plans.

You'll also desire to pay attention to discounts and special offers. Oft, larger carriers like AT&T and Verizon will increase the size of their autopay discount, which can brand a pricier programme more attractive. Metro by T-Mobile has been known to increase the size of the discount for when you add multiple lines of information.

Besides price, one of the well-nigh important things to consider is what carrier offers the best coverage around your domicile and workplace. That's true even if you look beyond the Big Iii carriers for service. Other wireless services — known equally mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs — utilise the cellular networks of AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon for their coverage. (Some MVNOs turn to multiple carriers.) So if Verizon's network is peculiarly strong where you lot are, for case, MVNOs that employ Verizon'due south network for coverage will perform well, as well. Just be aware that MVNOs can meet their traffic slowed if a carrier's network gets as well crowded.

5G coverage is now a part of what some MVNOs offering. Metro subscribers tin access T-Mobile's 5G with an eligible phone, as can Mint Mobile customers. Visible has added 5G access on Verizon's network to select phones, while both AT&T prepaid and Cricket customers can become on 5G with the most expensive prepaid plans at each carrier.

For more than on MVNOs, read our guides to AT&T MVNOs, T-Mobile MVNOs and Verizon MVNOs — we'll tell y'all which discount carriers use which parent networks.

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Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the edifice when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He has stiff opinions near Apple tree, the Oakland Athletics, one-time movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.